Abu Talha Dawood Burbank's Islamic translations are perhaps the most
widely circulated titles amongst the English speaking world. 

 Br. Abu Talha Dawood Burbank, one of the pioneers of the call to Ahl us Sunnah in the West and the translator of the most widely circulated books amongst the new generation of studious Muslims, has died. 

Posts on various Salafi forums have been releasing details as they become available. According to what has come to us thus far, both Abu Talha and his wife (while on route to Makkah to perform Hajj) were on a bus that caught fire, and both of them were killed in the fire. The post gives some solace to the reader by quoting the glad tidings that Allaah's Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wassallam) said:

 
Do most Muslims believe you can be granted eternal paradise
based upon good deeds alone?

Know, may Allah open your hearts to guidance, that Allah has not created us and this life that we witness for sport and play, but rather he has created this brief lifespan of ours to  test which one of us is best in deed. Allah says:  
Who has created death and life, that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving. (Surah Al-Mulk:2)
And He has prepared a noble reward: An expansive paradise underneath which rivers flow,  for those who believe and strive hard in righteous deeds.  There can be no doubt that those who strove hardest with faith and good deeds after the prophets are the companions of the prophet (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) Allah chose them to accompany the prophet because He liked what was in their hearts of noble characteristics. Not only because of their belief and sincerity not only because of their obedience to the prophet  (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ) they also used to have hearts filled with fear and hope.